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Climate change ‘may save’ grey nurse shark

Conservationists fear Australia’s grey nurse shark could become extinct by 2050 but, according to a group of leading shark scientists, global warming could help save them.

Scientists have predicted that a rise in sea temperature could be good for the grey nurse shark and save it from extinction.

“This is probably one of those one in a hundred examples where climate change may actually be somewhat beneficial for this particular species,” University of Adelaide’s Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw said.

Australia has two grey nurse shark populations: one off the east coast – ranked as critically endangered – and one off the west coast, categorised as vulnerable.

Scientists believe the two groups have been isolated from one another for more than 100,000 years.